Tonganoxie City Council to consider police station, other facilities

A building that would be home to police services, library, city hall and even USD 464 district offices is a possible scenario for a future facility in Tonganoxie.

All ideas are fair game as the local infrastructure committee discusses future facilities next week.

Discussion at Monday’s Tonganoxie City Council veered in that direction after Susan Freemyer, a candidate in the April election for council, asked council members about the police station, as well as funding for County Road 1.

The city has an agreement with Leavenworth County to pay $100,000 annually as part of a $1.5 million commitment for County Road 1 improvements that were made to connect Tonganoxie to the first turnpike interchange in Leavenworth County.

Mayor Jason Ward contended that the city needed to proceed with the agreement, while Council Member Jim Truesdell questioned whether the county has held up its end of the agreement.

Freemyer voiced concerns about the current state of the Tonganoxie police station and how the city might address it. She wondered whether annual commitments to the County Road 1 agreement, as well as the selling of the industrial park land south of Tonganoxie, might help in gaining more funds for projects such as a new police station.

Council members, though, said the park could start paying dividends, especially now that the city has built utility lines out the area.

Council Member Andy Gilner noted that the Army Reserve facility that is to be built south of Tonganoxie, though not in the park, is indication that entities are looking at the area.

Discussion eventually gravitated toward talk of the infrastructure committee discussing possible solutions for facilities. The committee, which Truesdell and fellow Council Member Kara Reed are on, will meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday in council chambers. USD 464 Superintendent Lyn Rantz, Joel Skelly and John Morgan from the planning commission and City Administrator Nathan McCommon are on the committee.

The meeting is open to the public.

Mayor leads moment
of silence

The Tonganoxie City Council had a moment of silence to honor Colin Bennett, the 21-year-old Tonganoxie man who died in a vehicle accident Feb. 19 on County Road 5 below the U.S. Highway 24-40 overpass.

“I know many of us have dealt with this tragedy, really first hand,” said Mayor Jason Ward. “I’m proud of the efforts our staff displayed on this day.

“I know our thoughts and prayers are with the family.”

Council approves low bid
for water park work

The Tonganoxie City Council approved a Wichita company repaint the pool at Tonganoxie Water Park.

The Council approved, 5-0, Wildcat Painting’s low bid of $11,800.

The bid was lowest of eight submissions. The next lowest bid was $12,636 (DEM Enterprise) and highest was $30,800 (Dayco Painting). Other bids came from Sunshine, Commercial Waterproofing, JF McGivern, Genesis and A1A Sandblasting.

Money appropriated for
fire station work

The Council approved Tonganoxie City Fire Chief Jack Holcom’s request a budget amendment increase of $26,000 to complete finishing work on the fire station expansion, which started in 2013, as well as another $14,000 for general equipment, firefighter uniforms, tools, computers and failing HVAC of the original station.

The $40,000 comes from the leftover 2014 budget, so the budget amendment won’t affect the operations budget for the general fund.

Holcom’s estimates include:

• $15,570 to pave the parking lot on the east side of the station (to include $170 for privacy fence and $200 for dryer venting equipment).

• $1,500 bathroom stall dividers for men’s and women’s bathrooms

• $4,500 HVAC to replace heating and air unit that is 23 years old. These units have been adjusted to function in a limited capacity.

• $7,200 Firefighting gear lockers (24).

These are the fire service standard for fire personnel to keep their firefighting gear safe, secure, and ready for use.

• $1,230 to furnish the 4th bunkroom in the fire station

• $1,000 for washer and dryer (very important for decontamination after calls)

• $6,500 for monument style sign in front of the Fire Station. This would be an example of city expectations for future professional signs within the community.

• $2,500 for conference table and chairs for the training room. Currently, folding plastic tables and folding chairs are used.